Vehicle illuminating device



Sept. 14 i926.

D. T. FRASER VEHICLE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1924 I E l 'i l I l i -INVENTOR 5 7 Piz/w22 7.' 117x156/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1926,

. nAvIn '11. FRASER, or ivEw'iYonx, NY.-

vnnrcLn ILLUMINA'MNG DEVICE.

Animation mea February 12, wat.'` -seriai no. 692,217.

This invention relates to illuminating devices and, particularly, to devices for illuminating motor vehicles.

As is well known, motor vvehicles and, es.- ecially closed cars, are provided with dome the vehicle. Also all motor vehicles must be rovided with tail li hts or signal lights visi le from the rear `o the vehicle.

This invention has for its salient object to provide an illuminatingde'vice for motor vehicles so constructed and arranged that a single lamp can `be utilized to yilluminate the interior of the' vehicle and also serve as a signal-light.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide av device of the character described so constructed and arranged that the lamp can be used solely as a signal li 'htor to performv the function of ay signal lig t and illumin'at ing device for the interior of the vehicle. Another object'of theinvention is toprovide a. device ofthe character described so constructed that it can be readily mounted on vehicle bodies of different dimensions.

Further objects of the .invention will ap pear from the following specification taken 1n connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in` which- 1 is a rear elevational View of a motor vehic e body having mounted thereon illuminating devices constructed in accordancewith the invention. A

Fig. 2 is -a longitudinal sectional elevation of the rear portion of the vehicle body shown in Fig. 1, this. section being taken through one of the lighting devices.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation showmg the construction 'of the combination illuminating device.

Fig.4 i'san elevational view taken -fiom' the interior of the vehicle and showingthe cover for the lamp casing closed. e

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form ofthe invention adapted for use on av touring orj open car,.'and U Fig. 6 illustrates'a modified-form of the structure'shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the Alower I end of the casingbeing open or'- having a lass thereinfor permitting the rays of 'ght to pass downwardly to i1luminate a license plate.

The invention briey described consistsof y' a casing preferably formed in two parts and adapted to be mounted on the' rear .wall of a lclosed car and having means for supporting ights or means for illuminating the interior. o.

ay lampbulb therein.l The rear `wall the casing 1s closed by a lens, preferably colored has .a hinged cover thereon. The lamp illaminates the rear lens at all times and when 1t 1s desired. to illuminate the interior of the vehicle, the cover isswung inwardly land upwardly, permitting the rays to illuminate the interiorof thevehifcle Further details of the uiventlon will appear from the following descrlption. Referringto the embodiment of the invention shown 1n Figs. l'to -4,'the'1ar`np casing comprlsesa'pair of casing members having tubular or cylindrical telescoping portions 10 and 11 and laterally extending flanges 13 and 14 formed thereon.

The flange 13 lof the member f 10 is secured to the inner wall of the rear end 15 .of the wehicle body and the flange 14 is green or red, and the front end of thevcasing The rear portion ofthe casing has formed 'therein an annular groove 16 in which a tail light lens 17 is secured in any suitable manner as by a split ring 1 8. v

' A cover 19 is hinged at 20 to the flange 413 and a spring catch 21 is provided for securing' the Jcover in closed position. .The cover `1 9 has a knob 22 formed thereon or secured thereto for facilitating the opening of the cover. A spring 23'encircles the pivot pin 20 of the cover and normally retains the lcover in closed position.

The sleeve or tubular member 10 has formedtherein -a boss 24' for receiving a The illumination of thelamp bulb 25 will be controlled in the usual manner from the instrument hoard of the vehicle and when this bulb is lighted the lens 17 will be illuminated and. ifthe cover 19 is swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, the

25 is lighted, the cover has a small opening orehole 28 therethrough.

Fig.' 5` showsa modified form of the construction adapted for use on the rear curtain 30 of an oen, car and in` this form of thev invention, the casings 33 and 34 are secured to the rear anges 31 and 32 formed on lampbulb 25, the Alamp conduit being indi` cated at v26.

curtain any suitable manner as by rivets 35. The tail light lens 17 is secured in the groove 16 formed in the rear portion of the casing member by a split ring 18 as in the other embodiment of the invention. The remaining structure shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and, therefore, need not be specifically described.l

In Fig.. 6 the rear casing member 40 is extended asJ shown at 41 and the lower portion of this extension has formed therein a slot 42. A glass 43 closes this slot butpermits the rays of light to pass therethrough downwardly toilluminate a license plate or toilluminate the rear end of the vehicle. The glass 43 is mounted in a casing 4:4 secured to the rear lamp casing member 40. f

From the foregoing description it will be l -seen that a simple and practical illuminating device has been designed and that the lamp in this illuminating device will pei-f. .form the double function of illuminating a lmade to do double duty.

signal lens and of illuminating the interior of a vehicle. In this way electrical energy, will be conserved and a single lamp can be Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention` is capable of modication and that ychanges in the construction and in the 'arrangement of the various cooperatingvparts may be-made without departing from .the spirit or scope of theinvention', as ex pressed in the following claims.

What I claim is: v 1. In combination, a vehicle body wall having an opening therethrough, a sectional lamp casing telesco ed in said opening, a flange, on each section adapted to grip the walltherebetweenwhen the sections are positioned, a reflecting cover-l provided with a peep whole, hinged exterior to the flange on one section, a light directing slot formed exterior to the flange in the other section, a signal lens supported at one en'd f the opening, and a light mounted in the casing 2. In combination, a vehicle body Wall having an opening therethrough, a combined signal and tonneau light comprising .a sectional'lamp casing telescoped in. said vided with, a peep hole, a ,second flanged section telescoping with said rst section, a

light directing slot in said last named section exterior to the flange thereof, saidl flanges adapted upontelescoping of the sections to grip a support.

4In wltness whereof, I lhave hereunto set my hand this 9th day of February, 1924.

DAVID 'r. FRASER. 

